This week PedalGR will join the Ride of Silence, an international day of remembrance for bicyclists killed or injured in collisions with motor vehicles. The Ride of Silence exists for three reasons:

1) To HONOR those who have been injured or killed while cycling

2) To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here

3) To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

The Route:
No map, we will simply ride up Monroe at 6:30 to Riverside Park to join the Ride of Silence for their 12 mile route to John Ball Park and back, then return to Founders for the normal post ride festivities. The Ride of Silence travels with a police escort at a maximum speed of 12 mph. Silence among the riders is encouraged to honor those injured or killed.

Need to Know:

This is a no-drop ride. Generally nobody able to ride at 12mph is left behind, however, since there may be upwards of 200 bicyclists for the event, I will not be able to keep track of all the PedalGR riders. We will gather after the ride to go back to Founders.

Ride is about 17 miles and will take about 2-2 1/2 hours (PedalGR is not a race).

HELMETS ARE REQUIRED on Rapid Wheelmen Club rides. (The insurance company’s lawyers insist) Please email or comment if you need to borrow one and we will try to accommodate you.

Save The Date:

July 10 – 2010 Meijer Grand Cycling Classic – This fantastic criterium race returns to the brick streets of downtown Grand Rapids for its fourth year. The date was moved to July so it could be included on the National Road Calendar. The NRC is the premier points challenge for US pro-cycling teams and means this race will draw top US talent from all over the country and the world. Come down and support the local Bissell Pro Cycling Team, who is currently battling with Lance Armstrong’s Team RadioShack and Team Garmin in the Amgen Tour of California.

July 17 – BikeStock returns! – Bands, Beers, and Bikes will all come together on this Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle! The 2009 BikeStock at Ah-Nab-Awen park was a big success, but this event is coming back bigger and better for this year. Mark your calendar!

Also, become a fan of PedalGR on Facebook to get updates about upcoming rides!

PedalGR is honored to be helping lead the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Bike Ride this Saturday with Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. Last year’s ride saw a motley crew of cyclists including members of the Bissell Pro Cycling team, GRBMX racers, bicycle police officers, and even four highwheelers.

This year’s Mayor’s Bike Ride will take place following the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to open the new Grand Rapids Bike Park, the first mountain biking park in the city and one of the first urban bike parks in the entire state of Michigan. The format will be a little different, featuring a family friendly tour out and back on the Plaster Creek Trail.

Schedule of Events:

9am-11am – Park Clean-up – Join the Pioneer Construction crew and become a volunteer in this clean-up event, part of the Friends of GR Parks’ “I Heart GR Parks” volunteer workday. Many hands make light work and we need your help to continue clean-up efforts at the park. Bring Gloves and appropriate work clothes. Water and cups will be provided, but to reduce trash, we would appreciate if you bring your own drinking container.

11am – Ribbon Cutting event with Mayor George Heartwell and other local officials.

11:05am – Mayor Heartwell takes the first “official” ride on the pump track.

~11:15am – Join Mayor Heartwell for the Mayor’s Bike ride, a family friendly event heading up the Plaster Creek trail. Or you can try out the pump track or test out the newly minted short singletrack loops. (Or do all three!!) Free cake (YES, FREE CAKE!!!) will be served courtesy of the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club and PedalGR to the first 80-100 volunteers.

Come out to ride with the Mayor and show your support for urban mountain bike access in Grand Rapids! The success of this trail, an on-road bicycle network, and other projects yet to be developed relies upon the support of our local bicycling community.

An example of that support is an awesome trailer for the forthcoming documentary on the construction of the park, put together by Tom Scheidel of The Scheidel Group. This trailer was shown at the IMBA National Summit just last week to mtn bike advocates from all over the country. Awesome work Tom!!!

Upcoming PedalGR rides:

May 19 – Ride of Silence – This international day of remembrance and ride exists for three reasons:

To HONOR those who have been injured or killed while cycling

To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here

To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

We will ride up to the start at Riverside Park, complete the slow paced ride, and return to Founder’s afterward. The Grand Rapids ride seems like it has grown each of the past 4 years I have done it, and we will join with cyclists in hundreds of cities around the world who are participating in the ride.

Save The Date:

May 15 – GR Bike Park Clean-up/Grand Opening & Mayor’s Ride – Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will join with the Western Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (WMMBA) to celebrate the completion of the new pump track and a portion of singletrack trail at the new Grand Rapid Bike Park near Burton St and US-131. After a mass clean-up effort as part of Friends of GR Parks’ annual “I Heart GR Parks” event, Mayor Heartwell will try out the new pump track. Then he will lead the 2010 Mayor’s Bike Ride. This family friendly ride up the Plaster Creek Trail will be sponsored by the WMMBA, PedalGR, and the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club. Come on down to celebrate National Bike Month, check out and beautify the new park, and take a ride on a beautiful city trail. Check http://www.grbikepark.com for more info!

July 17 – BikeStock returns! – Bands, Beers, and Bikes will all come together on this Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle! The 2009 BikeStock at Ah-Nab-Awen park was a big success, but this event is coming back bigger and better for this year. Mark your calendar!

Also, become a fan of PedalGR on Facebook to get updates about upcoming rides!

On with the ride info. The people I’ve come to know in GR truly amaze me. I contacted my friend Tommy Allen about a tour of Huff Park, because I know he lives in the neighborhood. Tommy will be joined by Lynn Rabaut giving our guided tour. Lynn is a former GR city commissioner who was instrumental in saving this land from development and turning it into a city park. Heather Kaweck will also be there to tell us about how to get involved with “I Heart GR Parks” Day and the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. Huge thanks go out to those three for volunteering their time to help make PedalGR a great ride!

We’ll also be visiting some other awesome sites as we tour the NE side, including the giant mansion on Boltwood, a challenging ride up the historic cobblestone of North Ave (all but the toughest will be walking, there’s no shame in that 🙂 ), and a close up view of the “Fix” on 196 as we cross what’s left of the Coit Avenue Bridge.

Wednesday is Cinco de Mayo, so it’s your one day to dress up like a mariachi band member and not be made fun of. Ehh, people will probably still make fun of you! I can also guarantee there will be no Corona or Dos Equis on tap at Founders after the ride. They do have a great chips and salsa, though.

This is a no-drop ride. I do my very best to insure no one is left behind.

Ride is about 13.5 miles and will take about 2 hours (PedalGR is not a race).

HELMETS ARE REQUIRED on Rapid Wheelmen Club rides. (The insurance company’s lawyers insist) Please email or comment if you need to borrow one and we will try to accommodate you.

Upcoming PedalGR rides:

May 19 – Ride of Silence – This international day of remembrance and ride exists for three reasons:

To HONOR those who have been injured or killed while cycling

To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here

To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

We will ride up to the start at Riverside Park, complete the slow paced ride, and return to Founder’s afterward. The Grand Rapids ride seems like it has grown each of the past 4 years I have done it, and we will join with cyclists in hundreds of cities around the world who are participating in the ride.

Save The Date:

May 15 – GR Bike Park Clean-up/Grand Opening & Mayor’s Ride – Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will join with the Western Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (WMMBA) to celebrate the completion of the new pump track and a portion of singletrack trail at the new Grand Rapid Bike Park near Burton St and US-131. After a mass clean-up effort as part of Friends of GR Parks’ annual “I Heart GR Parks” event, Mayor Heartwell will try out the new pump track. Then he will lead the 2010 Mayor’s Bike Ride. This family friendly ride up the Plaster Creek Trail will be sponsored by the WMMBA, PedalGR, and the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club. Come on down to celebrate National Bike Month, check out and beautify the new park, and take a ride on a beautiful city trail. Check http://www.grbikepark.com for more info!

July 17 – BikeStock returns! – Bands, Beers, and Bikes will all come together on this Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle! The 2009 BikeStock at Ah-Nab-Awen park was a big success, but this event is coming back bigger and better for this year. Mark your calendar!

Also, become a fan of PedalGR on Facebook to get updates about upcoming rides!